09 Feb 2025: It was in the year 1971 when India toured West Indies, to overcome their previous tour defeats in 1951-52 and 1961-62. India had faced some humiliating whitewash defeat in their last visit on West Indies soil.
This tour had a new name to the squad "Sunil Gavaskar", coming from the cricket-loving city of Bombay (now Mumbai), a player known for his sheer concentration, technique with the eyesight to watch the ball till the very last moment had already made his name on the Domestic Circuit back home. Still, very few knew there would be a song written in his name after he completes his tour in the Caribbean.
India drew the first match as Gavaskar, who was not in the playing eleven for the first test. It was only in the second test in Port of Spain that Sunny got an opportunity to showcase his willow skills and boy he did score a 65 as an opener with Ashok Mankad putting an opening stand of 68 runs in the first innings. Those watching Sunny bat against the great West Indies bowling on the uneven pitch of Port of Spain, it looked like he was quite comfortable playing against the pace bowling attack with his immense concentration. In the second Innings, many would expect a debutant to fail as the match progresses due to lack of experience playing in Port of Spain, but for all the viewers it was surprised when Sunny scored an unbeaten 67* with India 125 for 3 and India won by 7 Wickets.
Georgetown Third Test: It was almost like a prophecy and people were sure that this young lad from Bombay would soon score a hundred and yes! Sunny did not disappoint the hopes of the Indians, while he went on to score his maiden test hundred with a score of 116 runs announcing himself in the international circuit. Already having scored two half-centuries in the second test and now a hundred, it was evident that Sunny had got the grasp of the pitch and the bowling attack quite well. The second innings was no different, Sunny registered yet another half-century to his tally with a score of unbeaten 64*.
By the time the fourth test had started, all eyes were set on the young debutant and the crowd was already singing a song for Gavaskar. During the 4th test at Bridgetown, West Indies had put up a massive score of 501/5D, with pressure mounting on the Indian side to most of the Indian batsman went out for cheap scores including Sunny as well, but it was Dilip Sardesai's 150 that saved the day for the Indian side. In the second innings chasing a target of 335, Sunny scored yet another hundred off 117 runs batting for 315 minutes while the match ended in a draw with India standing at 221/5.
5th and the Final Test at Port of Spain: Where it all started for Sunny. It proved to be a lucky venue for team India and Sunny in particular when he scored another hundred of 124 runs with India wrapping up 360. West Indies put in a solid score of 526 runs with India under pressure in the second innings, Sunny registered his maiden test double hundred of 220 runs, batting for 529 minutes and India ended with a score of 426 runs and the match was drawn, with India winning its first ever series win in West Indies.
By the End of the series Sunny had scored 774 runs at an average of 150+ and with a song named after him
"It was a Gavaskar the real master, standing like a wall they couldn't get him out at all"
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